What is the difference between adjudication and conviction in juvenile court?

Adjudication and conviction are both terms used in juvenile court proceedings in California. However, they have different meanings. Adjudication is a finding that a juvenile is guilty of a crime and is the equivalent of an adult being found guilty. Conviction is a finding that the juvenile must serve a sentence, such as detention or probation, as punishment for his or her crime. In juvenile court, adjudication typically resolves which crimes the juvenile has committed whereas conviction determines the punishment for those crimes. During the adjudication process, the court listens to evidence presented by both the prosecution and defense. The court must then decide whether the juvenile is guilty or not guilty. The adjudication process does not determine the sentence. Conviction, on the other hand, occurs after the juvenile has been found guilty of a crime in adjudication. After a finding of guilt in adjudicative hearing, the court must decide an appropriate punishment and that is where the conviction process begins. The court decides on a punishment based on the crime committed and the particular case. The punishment may range from a term of probation, to detention in a juvenile facility, to waiver of a juvenile to adult court. In summary, adjudication is the juvenile court process of determining if the juvenile is guilty of a crime, while conviction is the process of determining the sentence for that crime.

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What is the difference between adjudication and conviction in juvenile court?

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